Auxiliary table-top.



O. F. ONKEN.

AUXILIARY TABLE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED ran. 17, 1908.

1,007,72 Patented Nov. 7, 19'11.

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OSCAR r. ouxmv, or crucmuari, onr'o.

AUXILIARY TABLE-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1911.

Application filed February 17, 1908. Serial No. 416,812.

To 'all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR F. ONKEN, a citizen of the United States, and residin at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of 0 i0, have invented a certain new and useful Auxiliary Table-Top; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the accompanying drawing, with the reference characters marked thereon, which forms also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to auxiliary tabletops which are appliances provided for temporary use in connection wlth regular tables, to furnish a top of suflicient size for them in cases where the top of such a table is not large enough to serve for certain purposes as for instance when a number of persons are to be accommodated which is larger than could otherwise be seated around the same table. By having this auxiliary top removable, the regular table becomes available again whenever this larger top is not needed any more and the encumbrance is avoided caused by the requirement of space which a larger table would otherwise occupy and for which there is only limited use.

The invention relates to certain features of construction and arrangement of such a top and particularly 'of the means whereby it may be detachablyconnected to the top of an ordinary table whenever it is used,

In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof, will be found a full description of my inventio-n, together with its manner of use, parts and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, shows in side-elevation the upper part of a customary table with my auxiliary top in position on the top thereof, parts of it being broken away and shown in section. Fig. 2, shows my auxiliary top partly from its upper side and partly from below. Figs. 3 and 4, in top views at reduced scale illustrate use of my auxiliary top in connection with tables having tops of various shapes. Fig. 5, shows the underside of a top somewhat modified as to its arrangement. Fig. 6, is an enlarged detail section and shows the hinged edges of the top illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 7, is an enlarged detail view of the clamping device which ll use to hold my auxiliary top'detachabl in nary ta le.

The shape of my auxiliary top is not material and it may be polygonal, rectangular, or round which latter shape is preferred as accommodating the largest number of persons. Nor is the shape of the top of the table on which my auxiliary top is to be supported of any consequence, since the arrangement of my attaching-means is such as to permit their adjustment to a table-top of any shape, rectangular as shown in Fig. 4, the dotted lines in each case indicating the shape of the supporting table-top. Since economy in space taken up by such auxiliary devices, when not in use, is essential, I prefer to make my top in sect-ions, connected to permit folding flatwise against each other, so

position on the top of an ordithat very little space is required for its 7 storage while not in use.

When needed, the top is placed upon any suitable table available, this latter then merely serving as a support for the former. It is held in position on such atable, for the time being, by adjustable devices provided on its under-side. Such a to should be made as light as possible, to faci itate its handling for placing in position, or for removal to a place of storage. For such purpose light wood of limited thickness should be used, or still better a composite top is provided consisting of a comparatively thin sheet of suitable material like paste-board, or veneer-board, which forms the top'proper and which is attached to the upper surface of a skeleton-frame whereby this top-board is supround as shown in Fig. 3, or

orted and strengthened; The devices 'wherei y this top is attached to the table'are secured to this skeleton-frame and supported between the members thereof. This skeletonframe, for which wood is the most preferable material, is constructed in any suitable way, the arrangement depending on the shape which the top is to have and on'the number of sections of which it is composed I have shown the preferable round shape and .as illust-rated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, I'

arrange the top in two semi-circular sections. The construction of these sections and of the skeleton-frame for each is as follows: At the edges where the sections are hinged together, I provide a rail A, which is as long as the particular edge of each section thereat and in length substantially equal to the length of the diameter of the top. The hinges B whereby the sedtions are connected to each other are attached to those hinged-sides, there extends at right angles,-

sides of these rails which-abut when the sections are in normal, top-forming position, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. By-reason 1 f this pa rticular function and location, I

:call "these raiIs, hin e-rails. Midway from each of- I these rai sfiand 'opposite. their another" rail; C. Transverse rails D are .ang'ularly arranged between these rails- I mentionedas shown and connected. tothem. 7 A shorter rail E extends outwardly from each ofthese'transvfise rails. 15"

Rails A, O and E are substantially- ,arranged and their outer ends :terminate in g :a manner to permit a rim-rail F to becon- ,j nected to these ends in such a manner that when connected it forms the outer edge of the table top of a semi-circular out-line. The connection of these rails at'their ends to each other to form the skeleton-frame may be in any suitable manner-by nails,

screws, mortise and tenon, glue, etc.- All arts of this skeleton-frame are of e ual. t ick-.. ness so that upper and lower sur aces of the rails composing it are all in one plane, which lanes form substantially an upper and a ower frame-surface. To the upper surface of this frame there is connected the top proper, composed as beforestated, of

suita le light material like paste-board, or

I ,veneer-board. This top is shown at G, and

. I designate it hereinafter; as the board or top-board. It is secured on its under-sun face to the top-surface-of the skeleton- "frame, glue being preferably used for. its ;;connection to the rails thereof. There is .Isuch a top-board for each'section ofv the top and the outline of this-board correspends substantially totheqoutline of'the skeleton-frame pertaining. to this section.

\ One piece is preferably-used'for a section,

but this is not essential and "it may 'be pieced, the, edges being joined upon any of" the rails of the skeleton-frame. .The outer edge of this board is parallel with the rim- I so rail and its inner edge is parallel with the hinge-rail of the szeleton-frame. These edges of the board may extend out even (with the outer edges of each of. these rails and as shown at the rim-rail, see Figs. 1 and- 2. Or they may terminate on the upper surface of these rails but. inside' of their outer edges as shown in the case of the hinge-rail, see Figs. 2 and-6. In such case the thickness of the particular rail would be increased to the extent of that part of it which is not covered by the board, .the'increased portion forminga ridge a equal in height to the thickness of board G, so that the'upper surface of the-top remains nevertheless perfectly even. .These ridges form thus a protection for the edges of the'topboard and in case of the hlnge-rails, they substantially ,also increa'se the thickness of the wood and thereby add strength in a position where,

by reason -ofthe presence of hinges B, such additional'strength is most desirable. The

hinges .are 'mortised into this thicker part ofthe hinge-rails and between upper and lower surfaces thereof, so that no part of the, hinge projects beyond the upper or lower surfacesof the top. (See Fig. 6.)

,When the sections of the top are completedand. connected in the manner described, afinishin 'covering H, of flexible materiah fpreferab cloth, is applied and, ece, stretc ed over the to so as to cover all-thesections thereof. T is covering is attached at its outer. edge to the edge ofotheto .in' any suitable manner, or as shown; I he, or round-headed tacks, or both means combined, may serve as attaching means. When the top is opened out this cloth-covers and thereby obliterates the division line between the sections of the top and an integral .unbroken surface is presented.-

To prevent injury to the top of the table which serves as a support for this auxiliary v top, the underside of this latter is cushioned by strips of cushioning material K, which may be cloth, and WhlCl'h .is secured to the un erside of the top. The attachment is to the undersideof one or of all of the rails .whi'ch-com ose the skeleton-frame, the particular'ra' s-bein each provided with two grooveslc, on their underside, which receive the .edges'of these cushioning-strips. The connection is preferably by glue.

Tohold th1s auxiliary top in position on theltop L of the table whereby it is sup 7 orted, I provide a number of attachingevicesonthe underside of the top, four being a preferable number as'shown. These devices engage the underside of the supportingtable-top and they are adjusta e to meet the edges of'this top' and to suit the thickness thereof. These devices consist of clamping-jaws 10, fitted t0 shanks 11 in a manner to permit them to slide longitudinally on them and arranged so as to project from them at an angle which permits them to reach under and engage the underside of the table-top. The shanks are screw-threaded and a nut 12 is mounted on each below jaw 10 thereon, whereby the 13 which are slidably mounted each upon a rod 14. These rods are fixedly secured below the top-board and parallel to the underside thereof. The ends of these rods are embedded in the facing sides of two opposite rails of the skeleton-frame. Any of the rails most readily available may be used for such purpose, Figs. 2 and 5, showing suitable arran ements.

Fig. 1, illustrates the application, each shank 11 being shifted on rod 14 against the edge of the table-top L, after which the previously lowered jaws 10 are raised and tightened against the underside of top L by means of nuts 12. The position of these holding-means, with reference to the edge of the supporting table, maybe secured by set-screws 15 so as to prevent lateral displacement. By having at least one of the lnserted ends of rods 14 fiat, saidrods are prevented from working loose on the rails of the skeleton-frame between which they are supported. The contacting surface of jaws 10 may also be cushioned by a pad 16,

to prevent marring of the underside of' table-top L.

Procedure for detachment of the auxiliary top is obvious. Nuts 12 and set-screws 15 are oosened, after which the fittings are slid outwardly on rods 14 until jaws 10 are clear of the edge of the lower table-top. The auxiliary top is then folded up, Fig. 6, showin the inner portion of it after folded, the clot covering of the sections being between them. The shanks, swinging on rods 14, are finally turned down into the recesses formed between the rails of the skeletonframe and board G and against the underside of this latter as shown in Fig. 2, so that they are entirely out of the way. They are held in this posltion by the re-tightening of set-screws 15. In addition I provide bands 17 of elastic material arranged so that they may be stretched over the end of shanks 11 when these latter are in this position, as shown in Fig. 2. For such purpose they are pulled aside and held so until the shanks are lowered, after which the bands are released. Either one or both of these means may be used. It will be noted that when so arranged, nothing projects beyond the folded-up sections and the bulk of the closed-up top has been reduced to the smallest possible compass.

Fig. 5, presumes to show a top of larger dimensions which for this reason is arranged in four sections. The supporting capacity of the skeleton-frame has been increased by providing more rails. Each quarter-section has in this case two hingerails A, which join each other at right angles. No hinges are provided however between the hinge-rails of two adjoining quarter-sections to permit this top to be folded up in quarters. These two particular sections fold each against and over the adjoining sections to which the are hinged, cloth against cloth, after which the other two sections, with these folded-u sections, are folded up with their undersi es against each other. The arrangement of the holding-devices has ,also been modified in this case as to location. I

Having described my invention, I claim as new;

1. An auxiliary table-top adapted to rest upon another top, the same consisting of a top-board and of a sustaining-frame composed of rails, rods supported between opposite rails of this frame and below the to board thereon, sleeves mounted on these ro s in a manner to have a rotary as well'as lon- 'tudinal adjustment thereon and holdingl tvices carried by these sleeves.

' 2. An auxiliary table-top adapted to rest upon another top, holding-means adjustably arranged to effect engagement with the supporting top, said holdin -means being hingedly connected to the un erside of the auxil iary top and adapted to lie against the underside of said top when the same is not in use and elastic bands adapted to engage these holding-means to hold them in this position.

. In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. OSCAR F. ONKEN. Witnesses: C. SPENGEL,

- T. Lu BEAU. 

